as in tool
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another
the novel's characters are not fully fleshed humans, but are simply lay figures strutted out to serve as mouthpieces for conflicting points of view
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay figure
Noun
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Maybe a computer was a new tool for understanding poetry.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026 -
So Amrik taught Rai to cherish his tools and treat them with the utmost care.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Pawn Shop Set inside the former Collateral pawn shop on Melrose, this summer opening reimagines a longtime family run neighborhood fixture as a 7,800-square-foot sports-viewing hub.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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The organization is treating these athletes as political pawns instead of as young people with their own families, goals, futures and careers to think about.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Lay figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20figure. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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